Splash preventor for tank truck loading rack

ABSTRACT

A splast preventor device insures safe loading of a liquid into a tank by making it necessary that the loading spout be fully inserted into the tank opening and resting on the bottom of the tank before liquid can flow through the device into the tank.

United States Patent Lanning et al.

SPLASH PREVENTOR FOR TANK TRUCK LOADING RACK Inventors: Donald W.Lanning, Friendwood;

Leonard J. Lambin; John G. Pratt, both of Houston, all ofTex.

Assignee: Shell Oil Company, Houston, Tex.

Filed: Sept. 1, 1972 App1. No.1285,946

Int. Cl. B6511 3/02, B67c 3/02 Field of Search 141/286, 374, 356, 115,141/186 1 1 Feb. 4, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS738,138 9/1903 White 141/356 2,138,355 11/1938 Ryan et a1 7, 141/3562,874,734 2/1959 Luckock et a1 141/356 Primary ExaminerHouston S. Bell,Jr.

1 1 ABSTRACT A splast preventor device insures safe loading of a liquidinto a tank by making it necessary that the loading spout be fullyinserted into the tank opening and resting on the bottom of the tankbefore liquid can flow through the device into the tank.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPLASH PREVENTOR FOR TANK TRUCK LOADING RACKBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the invention The presentinvention relates to an apparatus and method by which splash loading isprevented in loading a tank truck or tank car by requiring that theloading spout be fully inserted and resting on the bottom of thereceiving vessel before fluid can flow through the nozzle and into thetank.

2. Description of the Prior Art The present practice utilized whenfilling a tank truck or tank car at a loading terminal generally uses anopen-ended loading arm that permits loading whenever the end of thespout is inserted into the compartment opening. Operation of anopen-ended loading spout is usually remote with the operator opening avalve that is some distance from the open end of the spout. Use of anopen-ended loading spout gives rise to splash loading by allowing theliquid to fall freely through the empty compartment and impinge on thebottom. Such a practice of letting fluid fall freely through an opencompartment can generate static electricity and can be a source ofignition for flammable vapors in the tank if sparking occurs.

Further, through the use of an open-ended loading spout there is apotential for product loss through spills due to the lack of adequatecontrol by the operator of the loading arm when opening a valve locatedremotely from the open end of the spout.

Thus. it can be readily seen that an operation such as this is a hazardboth to the facility as well as the personnel operating the loadingspout, particularly when loading an inflammable or toxic material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention advantageously solvesthese problems by the addition of a splash preventor to the open end ofthe spout used in loading a tank car or tank truck.

Flow cannot be started through the loading arm until the nozzle end ofthe arm is within the receiving vessel and resting on the bottom of thevessel. The operator is not required to know the position of the arm inrelation to the tank opening and is assured of liquid shut-off if thearm should inadvertently become disengaged from the bottom of the tank.This substantially reduces the potential for accidental splashing ofliquid and/or the release of hazardous materials into the loading area.

The submersion of the splash preventor in the tank while loading is inprogress further reduces the potential for accumulation of staticcharges on the nozzle and prevents the generation of a field capable ofproducing a spark and subsequent fire and/or explosion.

The use of a deflector on the lower end of the splash preventor aids inmaintaining the loading arm in its lowest position and obviates thenormal tendency of an open-ended loading arm to retract from the bottomof a vessel due to the velocity of the incoming stream and resultingreaction forces caused by the fluid impinging on the tank bottom.

The incorporation of a lever which functions as a poppet shaft extensionpermits the release of fluid entrained in the loading arm between theremote valve and the splash preventor and permits complete draining ofthe loading arm at the conclusion of the filling operation.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWlNGS The nature and extent ofthe presentinvention will he more fully appreciated with reference to the drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus of the present invention installed on apivotably mounted loading arm most often used with a truck loading ortank car loading dock;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing partly in crosssection the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another view illustrating the installation of the manuallyoperated lever arm for actuating the poppet valve.

DESCRlPTlON OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings. andmore particularly to FlG. 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe splash preventor of the present invention. A commercially availablevertical lift single poppet valve assembly 11 has been modified andadapted for service with the present invention. The poppet valveassembly ll having a discharge part was modified by threading the shaft12, as at l3, so that it would mate with a poppet valve extension 14 andbe threadably connected with the poppet valve shaft extension 14 to thepoppet l5 at the upper end of the shaft l2. The poppet valve assembly llwas further modified by adding a nipple l6 at the lower end. the nipple16 being of a length for a fluid deflector assembly 24 to be threadablyconnected to the nipple 16. The fluid deflector assembly 24 has a bore25 therethrough with a guide bushing 21 inserted and weldably attachedto the deflector plate assembly 24 as at weld 22.

The poppet shaft extension 14 is provided with a slotted hole 34therethrough having radii 35 at the top and bottom such that drain leverarm 29 will smoothly op crate the poppet shaft extension l4 and in turnthe poppet IS without difficulty. The lever arm 29 is pinably mounted tothe deflector assembly 24 by means of a shaft 32 mounted within twobushings 3i. the shaft being retained in position by a pair of cotterpins or equivalent means 33. The drain lever arm 29 is provided with thesplash preventor assembly 10 for manual operation of the poppet 15 whenmoving the loading arm illustrated in FIG. I from the tank enclosure.

The poppet shaft extension 14 carries at its lower end a poppet shafttip 20 which upon contact with the bottom of the tank enclosure thepoppet shaft tip actuates the poppet l5 enabling fluid to flow indicatedby arrow A. through the splash preventor into the tank and the fillingoperation is commenced. The poppet shaft tip 20 may be threadablyconnected. weldably attached. or by other means to the poppet shaftextension 14, but for disassembly and repair. welding is not preferred.The poppet shaft extension 14. the poppet shaft tip 20, and the guidebushing 21 are preferably aluminum since aluminum does not spark uponcontact with other surfaces such as steel. The use of aluminumsubstantially reduces the risk of sparking that can cause a fire and/orexplosion during a loading operation.

The deflector assembly 24 has deflector surfaces 23 disposed at itslower end deflecting fluid flow coming through to each side. Thedeflector surface 23 aids in 3 maintaining the loading arm in its lowestposition within the tank and obviates the normal tendency of anopen-ended loading arm to retract from the bottom of the vessel due tothe velocity of the incoming stream.

There are obviously alternative embodiments of the present invention. Asfor example. a spring could be installed surrounding the poppet shaftextension 14 between the poppet shaft tip and deflector 24 to preventaccidental opening of the poppet 15 by contacting some object such as atank vessel side. Further other materials could be utilized rather thanaluminum for the parts which abutt surfaces causing sparks. For examplematerials such as brass or other non-sparking type materials could beutilized to make up the splash preventor 10.

Therefore. it can be seen that the apparatus of the present inventionaids in solving a perennial industrial problem of improper loadingprocedures which has regularly resulted in serious explosions and majorinjury to personnel and damage to trucks and loading racks.

This is accomplished by providing the discharge port of a fluidunloading valve with a fluid deflector for deflecting the fluid streamas it leaves the valve. At the same time the poppet valve shaft l2. l3and 14 of the poppet or check valve ll is spring-loaded so as to beactual-able to an open position on contact with the bottom of a tankbeing filled. At the same time manuallyoperable drain lever means 29 isprovided so that the valve may be opened to drain any liquid, forexample an acid. from the valve and any tank car loading arm above thevalve, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

We claim as our invention:

1. A device for preventing splashes during tank filling operations. saiddevice comprising: i

a valve assembly including a check valve having a poppet with a shaftextending downwardly therefrom and a discharge port therethrough:

a fluid deflector disposed at the lower end of the device adjacent thedischarge port of said check valve and in line therewith;

means for connecting said deflector to said check valve; said poppetvalve shaft including a shaft extension extending through said deflectorand being connected at its upper end to said poppet shaft. said poppetshaft extension having a poppet shaft tip at its lower end; and

manually-operable drain lever means operatively engaging said valveshaft and extending to a point laterally outside said device for theoperation of said valve.

2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said lever means includes a leverpinably mounted to said deflector, said lever extending through aslotted hole in said poppet shaft extension.

3.The device of claim I wherein said deflector is provided with a guidebushing, said bushing being weldably attached to said deflector, saidbushing having a central bore, said bushing acting as a guide for saidpoppet shaft extension.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said check valve. said deflector, saidpoppet shaft extension. and said poppet shaft tip are a non-sparkingmaterial.

1. A device for preventing splashes during tank filling operations, saiddevice comprising: a valve assembly including a check valve having apoppet with a shaft extending downwardly therefrom and a discharge portthere through a fluid deflector disposed at the lower end of the deviceadjacent the discharge port of said check valve and in line therewith;means for connecting said deflector to said check valve; said poppetvalve shaft including a shaft extension extending through said deflectorand being connected at its upper end to said poppet shaft, said poppetshaft extension having a poppet shaft tip at its lower end; andmanually-operable drain lever means operatively engaging said valveshaft and extending to a point laterally outside said device for theoperation of said valve.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said levermeans includes a lever pinably mounted to said deflector, said leverextending through a slotted hole in said poppet shaft extension.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said deflector is provided with a guidebushing, said bushing being weldably attached to said deflector, saidbushing having a central bore, said bushing acting as a guide for saidpoppet shaft extension.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said checkvalve, said deflector, said poppet shaft extension, and said poppetshaft tip are a non-sparking material.